Government Leaders After the Death of Pope Francis in the Vatican

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) arrived in Rome on Friday for the funeral of the late Pope Francis and paid their last respects to him in St. Peter's Basilica. According to Van der Bellen, Francis will "go down in history."

Van der Bellen commented on Pope Francis

"For my wife and me, it is important to say goodbye to Francis. He was a very significant pope in many respects. He was the head of the Catholics, but any pomp was foreign to him. He always stood up for the poorest and weakest. He always tried to make peace wherever possible, he was always there," said Van der Bellen to Austrian journalists in Rome.

"Francis was a personality who really told us a lot, through his behavior, through his statements. I was fortunate to meet him twice, my wife three times. We immediately connected," reported Van der Bellen.

"Buon viaggio, Papa Francesco. E grazie!"

"Pope Francis always reminded us that true strength lies in serving the weakest. May he rest in peace. Buon viaggio, Papa Francesco. E grazie! (Safe journey, Pope Francis, and thank you! Ed.)" said a statement from Van der Bellen.

"For me, the name Francis will always stand for closeness and humanity. He was an impressive personality. During my two official visits to the Vatican, I experienced him as an interested, intellectual, and attentive person. His spirituality was also palpable," said Van der Bellen.

"Pope Francis impressed and inspired millions of believers - we feel his impact today in Rome. I think it was also due to his candid and direct manner: He never looked away, he looked at things. And with him, the world. Time and again, he shone a spotlight everywhere he saw the well-being of people endangered. For example, through war, dictatorship, or climate change," explained the Federal President, who leads the Austrian delegation at the mourning ceremony for the pope on St. Peter's Square on Saturday.

Stocker: "Special person"

Chancellor Christian Stocker also paid his last respects to the pope. "The death of Pope Francis is a painful loss for the Catholic Church and believers in Austria and around the globe. I say goodbye in Rome to a special person who will be remembered for his service to the weakest in society and for his tireless commitment to tolerance, peace, and justice. May he rest in peace," said in a statement.

After the condolence in St. Peter's Basilica, the Federal President, together with Stocker, visited the church of the German-speaking community Santa Maria dell'Anima near Piazza Navona. In the "Anima," the Austrian head of state then met in the evening with Cardinal Christoph Schönborn and the chairman of the Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Franz Lackner, as well as Bishops Wilhelm Krautwaschl, Benno Elbs, and Ägidius Zsifkovics. They will all participate in the funeral ceremonies for Pope Francis on Saturday, which begin at 10:00 AM in St. Peter's Square. Van der Bellen will also meet the Italian President Sergio Mattarella, with whom he is good friends, after the funeral in Rome on Saturday.

The Pontifical Institute Santa Maria dell'Anima is responsible for the German-speaking parish and pilgrim pastoral care in Rome as well as for running a priest college. The Austrian-German national foundation traces back to a founding by the couple Johann and Katharina Peters from Dordrecht in the Netherlands, who in the 14th century established a hospice for "poor people of the German nation" under the title "Sancta Maria Animarum."

Pilgrim Church and Center of German-speaking Catholics in Rome

The church of the "Anima" remains a pilgrim church as well as the center and "parish church" of the German-speaking Catholics in Rome. The former Anima pilgrim hospice became a study college for priests in 1859. Priests from the German-speaking area or the countries of the former Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation still reside in the "Anima College" during their study stay in Rome.

The "Anima" is one of the few churches, alongside St. Peter's Basilica and Santa Maria Maggiore, where a pope is buried. Specifically, it is Pope Adrian VI from Utrecht. He is considered the first reform pope in light of the Reformation triggered by Martin Luther. Due to his short tenure, Adrian VI could achieve little. Elected pope on January 9, 1522, he died on September 14, 1523, in Rome and found his earthly resting place in the "Anima."

Stocker on Pope Francis

Pope Francis was a bridge builder who will be missed by the world. This was emphasized by Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP), who arrived in Rome on Friday for the funeral of the deceased Pope Francis. "Austria mourns with the Catholics and many people around the world for Francis, who will be remembered as a very human pope. He built bridges to other cultures and religions," said Stocker to Austrian journalists in Rome.

According to Stocker, the pope was strongly committed to "justice, tolerance, and peace." "He will be missed by the church and the world, may he rest in peace," Stocker emphasized. "I personally regarded Francis as a political pope who always had a very human touch in his political work. He brought a lot of connectivity to his political and church work," said Stocker.

Together with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Stocker bid farewell to Francis in St. Peter's Basilica on Friday afternoon. "St. Peter's Basilica is a church that impresses everyone, but especially Catholics. Although I did not have the opportunity to meet Francis during his lifetime, the farewell in St. Peter's Basilica touched me. The many people who queued to say goodbye to him testify to the significance Francis has for Catholics," Stocker emphasized.

(APA/Red)

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